Who are our clients?

Counselling at the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre is primarily for people who live and/or work within the Pine Rivers District.

We work with adults, children, couples and families who wish to explore personal and/or relationship issues.

What issues does the counselling service address?

Counsellors at the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre work with a variety of issues including, but not limited to:

anxiety;

depression;

anger management;

grief and loss;

relationship issues, including couple and family conflict;

parenting;

individuals and families dealing with major transitions in their lives.

Are there any issues that the service does NOT address?

Because the counselling service is appointment-based, we cannot offer crisis counselling. Please contact one of the following services if immediate assistance is required:

Salvation Army

(07) 3831 9016

Lifeline

13 11 14

Parentline

1300 301 300

Kids Helpline

1800 551 800

Men’s Line QLD

1800 600 636

Women’s DV Line

1800 811 811

Standby Response Service

07 3250 1856 – 0438 150 180 (24 hour mobile) for suicide bereavement.

The counselling service does not specialise in working with issues around substance use & dependence, sexual abuse or complex trauma. In such situations, counsellors will negotiate with you a referral to specialised services to ensure that you are supported in getting the help that you need.

Who provides the counselling?

Qualified and experienced counsellors and family therapists with a commitment to providing a respectful, collaborative, confidential and safe place for all those who engage the service.

What can I expect from the counselling service?

Professional counselling and family therapy provide an opportunity to explore your situation in ways that may help you to understand and address problems and make decisions.

The environment created in counselling and family therapy interactions is confidential, supportive and non-judgmental at all times.

Are there any fees for using the service?

Yes. However, we are a low-cost service dedicated to providing service to those who may not otherwise be able to afford it. Cost is always negotiable.

The standard fee for a 1 hour counselling session is $30, and we do offer a concession rate for those with a Health Care Concession card.

Can I claim a Medicare or health insurance rebate on counselling fees?

No.

When is counselling available at Encircle?

We have counsellors providing service at various times during the week, with some limited after-hours appointments available.

We do not provide any weekend counselling.

The greater your flexibility for appointment, the greater the chance that we can provide service quickly.

As our counselling service is in high demand, we ask that you make a commitment to attend all scheduled appointments once an offer of appointment has been made.

Do I need a referral to be able to access counselling at Encircle?

A referral is not required to access counselling at Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre.

How do I access counselling at the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre?

Contact the Centre by phone, e-mail or in person and make a Counselling Enquiry. You will need to provide contact details and an indication as to who the counselling is for and when you would be available for an intake interview. Your enquiry will be forwarded to the Counselling team.

A member of the Counselling team will contact you (usually by phone) to complete an intake interview. The purpose of this interview is to gather brief details about you and your request for counselling, and to provide you with information about how the counselling service works. You are welcome to ask questions and express concerns at any time during this interview. NB: While every attempt is made to address enquiries in a timely manner, it may take some time for an intake interview to be completed. The counselling team appreciates your patience.

Once the intake interview is completed, you will be added to the waiting list. A counsellor will then contact you within 2 – 3 weeks to offer you an appointment.

If the wait for a counselling appointment looks to be longer than 2 -3 weeks, you will be offered other local counselling options to consider as an alternative.